’’The Partner’’ another legal offering from John Grisham is about how Patrick Lanigan, a lawyer steals 90 million dollars from his law firm and gets away with it (well almost).
story
The book starts off in Brazil where some dangerous people hired by people(worth minus 90 million)are searching for our absconding hero. They find him and torture him for information about the money. The FBI (also looking for him) is informed that he is captured by Patrick’s lawyer in Brazil and arranges for his transfer from the thugs to a prison.
Now the story becomes very very interesting.
Patrick before making off with the money was assumed dead and burnt to ashes in a car crash. His wife gets about 2.5 million in insurance. His partners at the law firm lose 30 million (1/3 of 90) and their client Benny Aricia loses 60 million (2/3 of 90).So when he comes back
Patrick is sued by Benny Aricia
Patrick is sued by his partners
State charges for murder (burnt body found in car crash)
Federal charges for theft
Patrick sues the FBI for torturing him (even though he knows they didnt do it)
The insurance company sues Patrick’s wife
Wife files for divorce
Wife wants Patrick dead (so she can keep the money)
Now Patrick starts playing his game cause he has been planning about this for a long time.
Lots of deals being pulled off by everyone involved and finally lets Patrick get off without even going to jail (sounds implausible but when you’ve read the story it does seem possible)
opinion
The ending wasnt exactly to my taste. The lady lawyer from Brazil takes off with the remaining dough, which she could have done much earlier. The author may have been aiming for a twist in the tale which he achieved. But then the reader tends to get sympathetic about Patrick and would have wished a better ending
But anyway the book was immensely enjoyable and it’s gripping enough to keep the pages turning.